Barcelona 0-1 Betis summary: score, goals and highlights LaLiga
Barcelona 0-1 Real Betis: as it happened
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Real Betis moved into third in the table with a 1-0 win away to Barcelona on Saturday. After scoring a hat-trick last week, Juanmi came with the goods for the Andalusian side once again.
Sergio Canales drove deep into the Barcelona half, before laying the ball off to Cristian Tello. Tello spotted Juanmi to his left and the in-form forward tucked an effort past Ter Stegen to grab all three points for Betis on the road.
Barcelona had chances in the second half as they grew into the game. Ousmane Dembélé was impressive after coming on as a second half substitute and had several long range shots go wide of Rui Silva's goal.
Manuel Pellegrini had not won a league game in 10 against Barcelona but his side's victory today was Xavi's first defeat as Barcelona manager.
It's Xavi's first defeat as Barcelona manager.
Betis move into 3rd with the win at Camp Nou.
FT: Barcelona 0-1 Real Betis
Alba crosses, Betis clear...
This could be their final chance...
Barcelona have a free-kick in a good position.
There will be 3 minutes added on!
Memphis sends in a long ball to the back post. It's aimed for Dembélé but there is too much on it for the Frenchman.
Guardado sends in a cross from the left that evades everyone and Barcelona regain possession as they look for a goal.
With less than 5 minutes to go, Betis lead 1-0 at Camp Nou thanks to Juanmi's goal.
Barcelona double change:
OFF Lenglet & Ez Abde
ON Luuk de Jong & Piqué
Betis change:
OFF Juanmi
ON Iglesias
It's wonderful play from Betis. Canales does brilliantly and Juanmi is tee'd up at the back post by Tello to tuck his shot away from close range.
It's Juanmi once again!
Dembélé pulls another shot wide. He has caused Betis some trouble since coming on with four shots from both sides of the box.
If anyone is going to score in the final 13 minutes, it looks like it's going to be Barca.
Lenglet heads Barcelona's corner into Rui Silva's hands. 0-0
Barcelona have really upped the ante in the second half but Dembélé can't beat Bartra with his low cross from the right. The defender is well-positioned to deal with the cross.
Memphis goes down on the edge of the box but the referee waves play on. 0-0
Once again, Alba finds space down the left. Bartra heads the left-back's cross away. Alba has been very impressive today.
Betis change:
OFF Ruibal
ON Tello
It's Dembélé again. This time, he cuts in from the right onto his left foot and sends a curling effort over the bar.
Dembélé!
From 20 yards out, Dembélé looks to curl his shot into the far right corner. It's a speculative effort that whizzes just past Rui Silva's post.
Dest sends in a powerful cross from the right. Rui Silva flies out to punch it away!
Double change for Barcelona:
ON Frenkie de Jong and Dembélé
OFF Nico and Coutinho
That was very, very close but the referee gets it right. It would have been Juanmi's 9th goal of the season.
Xavi is not happy with the latest refereeing decision. It's a Betis throw-in but the Barca manager feels it's the wrong call.
Real Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini has lost his last 10 LaLiga games against Barcelona.
It was not considered necessary to take Gavi to hospital after being hit by the ball in the first half because he is now feeling fine, according to FC Barcelona.
And we're underway for the second half!
The players are making their way back out for the second half.
HT: Barcelona 0-0 Real Betis
Ez Abde is through on goal but Bartra comes across to brilliantly stop the young attacker.
Coutinho is played in down the left channel but finds himself offside.
There will be 5 minutes added on.
Ruibal!
Álex Moreno sends in an excellent low cross. Ruibal sprints across the box and flicks an effort just wide of the Barca goal. Nice play by the away side.
I'm expecting quite a few minutes to be added on at the end of the 45. There have been a lot of fouls and time spent with players down.
Nico fouls Guardado and gets a booking. It's a very late tackle and he catches the Mexican player in the left knee. Guardado is now receiving attention.
Betis have been defending in a 4-4-2 and will be happy with the opening 40 minutes.
Barcelona work it nicely down the left. Nico, Memphis and Alba link up. Alba's cross is eventually blocked.
Barcelona have 57% possession so far. Betis have 43%.
It remains 0-0 at Camp Nou.
Barcelona have been forced into an early change:
OFF Gavi
ON Riqui Puig
Riqui Puig is receiving instructions as the stretcher comes out for Gavi. We hope he's ok.
Gavi is still down, holding the side of his head.
Gavi took a blow to the head after Bellerin cleared a ball that ended up hitting him in the back of the head. Riqui Puig is warming up and it could be an early shower for the 17-year-old.
Another Betis player goes to ground. This time it's Guardado. Memphis tells him to get up for what does look like a very soft challenge. Canales takes the free-kick for Betis but Memphis blocks it.
Álex Moreno is down after a challenge from Nico.
Juanmi is through on goal. He goes around Ter Stegen but hits the side-netting. Even if he scored, he was a couple of yards offside.
Award winners
Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Pedri holds up the Kopa Trophy for the best under-21 player and Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Alexia Putellas holds up the women's Ballon d'Or award, that they received during the 2021 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony, before the match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis at Camp Nou on December 4, 2021.
Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP
There is plenty of exciting action in LaLiga today. After this match, we have Atlético vs Mallorca and later on is Real Sociedad vs Real Madrid. We'll be bringing you all the action from the Reale Arena as Madrid look to extend their lead at the top of the table.
Nico fouls and it's a free to the away side in their own half. Betis work it down the left. Araújo defends well as Juanmi looks to cut through the Barca backline.
Barcelona's top scorer in LaLiga: Memphis - 8 goals
Betis' top scorer in LaLiga: Juanmi - 8 goals
Canales is booked for a challenge on Busquets.
Xavi will be the happier of the two managers here. His side have started pretty well. Coutinho goes close after a nice low cross from Alba. Rui Silva saves the Brazilian's close range effort.
Alba crosses but it's blocked and goes out for Barca's first corner of the game. Bartra clears the cross with a header. Alba makes his 400th appearance for Barcelona today.
It's Coutinho once again. This time he works a yard for himself 20 yards from goal but drags his low shot wide.
Coutinho does well down the left, nut-megging Guido Rodriguez before misfiring his cross.
As things stand, Betis are 5th in LaLiga and Barcelona are 7th.
Xavi's starting XI today suggests that he does have one eye on Bayern this week as his side look to get a result to advance to the last 16 of the Champions League.
Bellerin crosses to the back post, where Juanmi heads toward goal but it's an easy one for Ter Stegen.
And we're underway at Camp Nou!
Barcelona play from left to right. Both sides are wearing their home kits.
The players are in the tunnel!
Barcelona player Alexia Putellas won the Women's Ballon d'Or award earlier this week and is now being presented with her award in front of the fans.
Pedri presented with Kopa Trophy
Pedri is on the Camp Nou pitch and has been presented with the Kopa Trophy he won earlier this week, becoming the best U21 player in the world.
The young midfielder is not expected to return to action until 2022 due to a thigh injury sustained against Benfica.
Barcelona hoping to offload Samuel Umtiti in January
There's no place at Barcelona for centre-back Samuel Umtiti, even under Xavi Hernández and the player may be on his way out of the club in next month's transfer window.
According to journalist Rudy Galetti, the 28-year-old is one of the options which AC Milan are studying as cover for Simon Kjaer who is facing six months out after rupturing the ligaments in his left knee.
Milan view Umtiti as a low-cost alternative to some of the other players they are looking at, seeing as the Frenchman doesn't figure in Barcelona's plans. Umtiti is under contract with the Catalans until 30 June 2023, but considering that he no longer plays and earns a high salary, Barça are looking into rescinding his contract.
Barcelona players warm up ahead of Betis clash
Sergino Dest, Sergio Busquets, Memphis Depay and Clement Lenglet warm up before the match between Barcelona and Real Betis at Camp Nou.
Photo by Lluis Gene / AFP
Barcelona vs Betis: times, TV and how to watch online
Barcelona will be looking to win their third LaLiga match in a row with Xavi as manager when they host Real Betis at Camp Nou on Saturday.
The Catalan side go into the game after defeating Villarreal 3-1 last weekend.
Xavi has had a positive impact since taking charge of Barcelona last month, with the Spaniard winning two and drawing one of his three matches at the helm, including back-to-back league victories over Espanyol and Villarreal.
Kick-off at Camp Nou is just 25 minutes away!
Nabil Fekir misses out for Betis
The most notable absentee for Betis today is playmaker Nabil Fekir. The World Cup winner is suspended. Sergio Canales will be the one looking to carve open the home side.
Juanmi, who scored a hat-trick for the Andalusian side last week, will be another player that the Barcelona defence will be keeping a watchful eye on.
Coutinho starts for Barça
Philippe Coutinho makes his first start for Barcelona since October 27.
Jordi Alba starts at left-back and makes his 400th appearance for Barcelona today.
Gavi, who is 23 years younger than Betis captain Joaquín, is in midfield.
Plenty of pre-match talk suggested that Dembélé would start for Barcelona but Xavi has opted for Coutinho and Ez Abde either side of Memphis.
Starting XI: Real Betis
Silva; Bellerin, Bartra, Ruiz, Moreno; Guido, Guardado; Canales, Aitor, Juanmi, José
No Fekir for Betis.
Starting XI: Barcelona
Ter Stegen; Dest, Araujo, Lenglet, Jordi Alba; Busquets, Nico, Gavi; Coutinho, Abde, Memphis
Interestingly, it looks like De Jong and Piqué are getting a rest with that Bayern game in mind. Coutinho maybe with a chance to open a January door.
Xavi's Barça balancing act
As Barcelona's new boss knows, there is more than just the league to deal with at a club of this size, and he'll have an eye on next week’s crucial Champions League match against Bayern Munich in Germany, as it will be do or die in the most important European competition.
The Blaugranas, who were held to a 0-0 draw by Benfica on November 23, will need to beat the Bavarians to make sure they get the ticket to the round of 16. However, if Benfica draw or lose to Dynamo Kyiv at home, Barcelona will go through even losing in Munich.
Will that affect his team choice?
Will this be Betis Day?
A bit of poetry to get us thinking from the Seville team.
"I can only think of you with me..."
But can the visitors come out on top? We're about to get the team news which may give us a better idea.
The splendid Camp Nou
This is where we are today. Not a bad venue to spend your Saturday afternoon, wouldn't you agree?
The Xavi effect?
Barcelona will be looking to win their third LaLiga match in a row today with Xavi as manager. The Catalan powerhouses go into the game after defeating Villarreal 1-3 last weekend, while Betis recorded a comfortable 4-0 Copa del Rey win over Alicante.
Xavi has had a positive impact since taking charge of Barcelona last month, with the Spaniard winning two and drawing one of his three matches at the helm, including back-to-back league victories over Espanyol and the aforementioned Villarreal.
Barça vs Betis: LaLiga live - welcome
Hello and a very warm welcome to you as I begin our build-up to our coverage of today's big afternoon game in LaLiga Santander.
Xavi is in the dugout once again as Barça look to stay in touch with those teams above them in the league. Real Betis, of course, have their own objectives to focus on as they visit the Camp Nou.
Kick-off is 4:15 pm local time, that's 10:15 ET and an even earlier start of 7:15 am on the west coast of the US. Grab a coffee and let's go...